Liquid discharge apparatus



Nov. 11, 1941. I H. c. GRANT, JRI- 2,262,722.

LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. Harry G. Grantfi ATTORNEY.

Nov. 11, 1941. t A c, QRANT JR 2,262,722

LIQUID DI S CHARGE APPARATUS M 1 u Mk U s;

........... H 33 20 13 62 26 51 32 1'1 18 zg 736 333 12 INVENTOR. Harry6'. Granz, J11 9; M CQMW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1941 mourn DISCHARGEarraaa'rns New York, N. Y., assignor to eat Corporation, Bloom- Harry 0.Grant, Jr.,

Specialties .Developm fleld, N. 1., a corporation or New JerseyApplication February 10, 1939, Serial no; 255,000

- 19 Claims. (01. 137521) The'present invention relatm to means forrapidly discharging the contents of a liquid storage tank, moreparticularly referring to the discharge or liquid fuel from the fueltanks of aircraft in order to render such iuel tanks available forservice as flotation members to buoyantly support the aeroplane andprevent it from sinking when its landing on water has become necessary.More specifically, the present invention has ref", erence to the liquiddumping method disclosed in the copending application 01 Henry ErnestHeigis, serial No. 74,45 2,-flled April 15, 1936, now Patent No.2,195,213, granted March 26, 1940; and constitutes an improvement of theliquid discharge disclosed, use is made of fluid under pressure,speciflcally liquid carbonic acid, stored for that purpose on theaeroplane to operate the system and its elements.

As distinguished from the device of the second named application, inwhich a diflerenc'e in pressure created with respect to the two sides ora fluid pressure operated piston due to the removal by fluid pressure ofthe closure of the tank discharge opening results in the redirection oithe flow oi the fluid medium under pressure to carry out the other stepsof the method as referred to above, the present inventioncontemplatesthe use. of structural means in conjunction with the fluid pressureoperable closure means of the tank to control the redirection of theflow of fluid'medium and thereby the steps subsequent to the removal ofthe closure means.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a liquiddischarge device for a liquid storage tank adapted to be'used as aflotation member which will prevent, under all cir cumstances, theentrance of fluid medium under pressure into the tank unless the closureof 5 plane flotation system the 6 5.

device has been removed to permit facile discharge of the liquid.

It is another object of the invention to provide a liquid fuel dumpingdevice as part of an aeromedium flow control device, the operation orwhich is controlled by the closure of the tank opening.

. Another provide a fuel tank dumping device which will control theoperative flow of the fluid medium under pressure by which it isoperated. 1

become apparent as the invention is described in device shown anddescribed in another copending greater detail in connection with thedrawings, application of Henry Ernest Heigis, Serial No. f wherein:139,710, now Patent No. 2,200,922, granted May Figure 1 is a view insection of a fuel storage 14, 1940, which-was divided out of the flrstnamed tank including a plan view 01 the tank contents application andflied April 29, 1937. dumping equipment constructed in accordance Thepresent invention has been based on the with the present'invention andapplied to a fuel broad method illustrated in the flrst named an a tankin the wing of an aeroplane, the latter indiplication wherein theopening of a closure concated diagrammatically. trolling a dischargeopening in the tank deter- Figure 2 is a view in section of the liquiddumpniines the subsequent steps of closing of the tank ing valve devicewhichis the subject 01 themesvent, the admission of fluid medium underprescut disclosure, while Figure 3 is a top plan view sure into the tankto aid in the evacuation thereof the dumping device of Figure 2. of, andtherendering impervious of said tank Referring now to Figures 1 and 2,wherein like after the evacuation of the liquid to maintain the numeralsdesignate like elements, the reference buoyancy ol the tank, now aflotation member. numeral I indicates'an aeroplane liquid fuel tank Inthe preferred embodiment of the method, as mounted in the wing of aplane,.2 the iuel dumping device as arranged in the tank. -3.thepressure fluid medium inlet of the device, the fluid pressure mediumoutlet of thedevice, 5 the fluid pressure medium storage container, 8the fluid release or the container, 1 the pressure medium conduit fromthe container 5 to inlet fluid pressure medium outlet (to control andfluid which operates to medium admission device 9,

close the vent and to open the id medium admission valve to the tank,and III the air vent pipe to conduct air to the tank through the ventingcontrol. The details or the venting and fluid medium admission devicewill'not be gone into, as

it forms no part 01 the present invention and is iull disclosed in theabove mentioned application, Serial No. 74,452, now Patent No.2,195,213.

In Figure 2, the dump valve 2 is shown mounted inside the tank I, partof the wall of which is illustrated in section, ring mounting l I beingwelded into the tank surrounding a corresponding circular hole therein.This ring comprises a horizontal base flange portion which is welded tothe wardly tank wall, a vertical portion and an inprojecting horizontalflange onto which which comprises a fluid" object of the presentinvention is, to

3, 8 the conthe stem 24 whichis This arrangement ot about pin 25 and thelower end of stem 24 to,

concave,

jcarries secured between gasket .1 4|, made of some easily rupturablematerial such as that known under the tively connected. The tank openingcontrol portion consists of acircular valve II which seats with thecircumferential gasket-like valve ring I8 on the valve seat l9 formed bythe device body l3. Rivets secure said valve ring I 8 to the valve IT.The structure of the valve itself consists of a base ring 15 on whichrests a spider-like formation having a central elevated body part 2|from which radiate eight legs or supports 22 as shown in'Figui-e 3.spider has a central bore 23 adapted to receive anchored by means of apin 25 in a central recess 25 in the upper central part of valve 1. Inan annular groove 27 formed concentrlcally with the bore 23 on the upperside of the body part 2| rests the expansion spring 28, the upper end ofwhich bears against a collar 29 secured by a pin 30 to the uppermostpart of stem 24. The flat upper side of valve bears against acorresponding flat lower surface I5 of the spider body part 2|. It willbe seen that this arrangement permits of a movement of the stem andvalve relative to the device body |3 downward and away from the seat I 9as a consequence of any pressure acting upon the surface of valve 1 andable to overcome the force of sprin 28. also permits 01' valve IT topivenable it toseat properly on seat l9 as an accurate alignment of thecooperating parts is not alwayscbtainable. The lower side of valve I1 ispermitting the formation of a chamber 1 3|, separated from the outsideby the circular. metallic disc closure 32 which is preferably of anon-ductile, crystallinea'nd brittle-nature and which iscircumferentially secured to device body l3 by means of screws 33 andmade leak-proof toward the outside by means of gasket 34. A cir- 1cumferential, ring-like portion of disc 32 is separated from its maincentral portion by a deep circular groove 35 which has the purpose ofweakening the disc along this line. The disc has riblike formations 52which serve to give added strength to its central portion relative tothe grooved portion at inside groove 35 is Jection 35. Coaxially withstud 35, device body I3 is formed with a cylindrical formation 31 havinga main'chamber 50 and a connecting passage 5| between said chamber 60and chamber 3| referred to above. Passage. 6| is recessed and threadedto receive a hollow bushing 38 which 39 and 40 disc 35. The disc, at apoint just trade-mark Celeron, or the like. Thisis to prevent entry intochamber of any liquid that may have seeped past valve due to vibrationsduring flight or,a large liquid head'on valve I 1 and which would befilling chamber 3|. Stud 35 is seen to be placed so as to partiallyextend intothe hollow of bushing 38, occupying a center of frangibledisc 4|.

50 is recessed and threaded at plug 42 which with gasket 43 closure ofcylinder chamber within tank I. A knob like support 44 formed on thelower face of closure plug 42 carries detach y pen ed y means of twosprings 45, which position directly underneath the Cylinder chamberforms a leak-proof Said body part 2| of the formed with a stud-likeproits top to receive a wall I between suspended from support 44;theother, 49, on the lower side, projects into connecting pasage 5| inexact juxtaposition to stud 35 on the other side of frangible disc 4|.Piston head 41 is Provided with masses 50, adapted to establish a fluidmedium conductive commimication between the spaces separated by pistonhead 41. The tubular piston'itself forms a snug working fit within Icylinder 31, chamber 50 of which has a cylindri- "cal lining 5|, held inplace by aset screw 52 screwed into the wall of the cylinder, andpreferably made of corrosion resisting metal, such as the alloy known asMonel-metal. At the bottom of chamber 56 within'cylinder 37 is placedthe discoid gasket 53 which is formed with a central opening toaccommodate the stud-projection 49 and is adapted to cooperate with thevalve-like seat 54 formed on the underside of piston head 41. At rightangles to cylinder 31, and forming an integral upper portion thereof, iscylindrlcal'member 53 formed with passages 54 and 55 providing,respectively, an inlet and outlet for the fluid pressure medium withrespect to chamber 50 through openings in cylinder 31 and its lining 5|provided therefor. Inlet and outlet conduits and dare connected withpassages 54:

and 55 through connectors 3 and 4 which are threaded into correspondingrecesses of the passages. Cylinder formation 53 terminates withintankwalllwithaflat is adaptedtolie flat and flanged end 55 which flange55 and bolt-ring 51; leakproof connection is attained by provision of agasket 53 between flange 55 and tank wall I.

The whole device may be removed from inside the tank when desiredbysimply unscrewing ,screws l2 and disconnecting screws 55 and boltllftit out through the device, pressure fluid ring 51. It is then possibleto the opening of base ring I In order to operate medium is releasedfrom container 5 by actuation, manual or automatic. of its release 5.Pressure fluid nwdium now enters cylinder 3'! by way of conduit I,connector 3and passage 54, and by its pressure causes suspended piston46 to be disengaged from its support 44 and to descend 50 against anyliquid toward frangible disc 4|, thereby" breaking the disc until stud49 comes ,to rest upon stud 38 of the disc closure 32. enter and passesfrom above piston 45 through passages 50, through connecting passage 8|into chamber 3| until the pressure therein forces out the disc closure32, rupturing it at its weakest p1ace,,along groove 35. This deprivespiston and stud 49 of their support-namely stud 35, and the fluidpressure above piston head fi'l-now causes the piston to descendall theway to the bottom of chamber 50, and by means of coaction between seat5% and gasket 53 eife'ctively closing passages 55 and thus preventingany loss of the fluid -medium to the opening in the tank wall nowcreated by removal of disc 32. At the' same time, pressure medium inletpesage .54 is put in operative connection with outlet passage 55 intowhich the fluid d medium continues to medium is now made to flow.Thence, the fluid medium passes through connector 4. and conduit 8 toventing and fluid medium admission device I, causing tank vent pipe Itto be closed to the atmosphere and the fluid medium admission valvetherein, leading into tank l to be-opened. When the pressure in tank Iacting on valve l1 and made up of the head of the liquid and thepressure of the fluid medium in thetank is suflicient to overcome thetension of spring 28, valve l1 will be forced from its seat ll,-and theliquid will drain to'the atmosphere. It may be pointed out herethat'sprlng 28 is relatively quite weak,

a proper liquid headin the tank being suflicient to permit drainage bygravity when disc 32 is re moved. The gas admitted abovejzhe liquid intothe tank under pressure is used to accelerate the charge opening, themain function of valve l1 being to prevent the loss of any gaseous fluidmedium'from the tank and to isolate the tank; inside from any outsidemedium such as water. It is assisted in, the latter function by the ventclosing and fluid medium admission mechanism referred to above.

In order to make the device operative again, piston 46 is pushed upwarduntil springs 45 catch hold of support 44 to keep the piston againsuspended in its non-0' rated position; bushing 38 is replaced byanother carrying a new frangible disc ll, and finally a new closure disc32 is put in place of the remaining ring of the oldone.

From the above, it may be seen that I have invented a device to quicklyand positively drain a liquid from a tank at the sametime making itpossible to use the tank as a float.

It will be seenfurther that my invention accomplishes the variousobjects pointed outat the beginning of this specification, Finally,

while my invention has been illustrated and described with specificreference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the invention resides in certain principles ofoperation and construction which may be embodied in various forms ofcon-- struction without departing in any manner from the spirit andscope of the invention, and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to thespecifl'c disclosure, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a discharge apparatus fora tank storing a liquid having adischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with the opening adapted to be un- 'closed by fluidpressure, a source of fluid pressure, fluid medium conducting means fromsaid source of fluid to said closure, fluid flow control means in saidconducting means nonnally permitting the flow of fluid medium throughsaid conducting means toward said closure and having a fluid mediumoutlet normally pbstructed,

and means associated with said closure to control said fluid flowcontrol means.

2. In a discharge apparatus for a tank storing a liquid having adischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with the opening-adapted to be unclosed by fluidpressure, fluid medium admission means for said tank, a source of fluidunder pressure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluid-to said closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source offluid to said fluid-admission means, means in'said first namedconducting means adaptedto control the flow of fluid medium to theclosure, and means associated with said closure to control said fluidflow control means.

, 3. In a discharge apparatus for a tank storing a liquid havingadischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with the opening adapted to be unclosed by uidpressure, fluid medium admission means for said tank, a source of fluidunder pressure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluidtosaid closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluidto said fluid admission means, means common to both said conductingmeans adapted to control the flow of fluid medium through both of saidconducting means, .and means associated with said closure to controlsaid fluid flow control means. I

4. In a discharge apparatus for a tank storing a liquid having adischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with the opening adapted to be unclosed by fluidpressure, fluid medium admission means for said tank, a source of fluidunder pressure, fluid medium conducting meansfrom said source of fluidto said closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluidto said fluid admission means, partly in common with said first namedconducting means, means common to both said conducting means adapted tocontrol the flow of fluid medium through both of said conducting means,and means associated with said closure to control said fluid flowcontrol means.

5. In a discharge'apparatus for a tank storing a liquid having adischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with the opening adapted to he unclosed by fluidpressure, fluid medium admission means for said tank, a source of fluidunder pressure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluidto said closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source offluidto said fluid admission means, partly in common with said first namedconducting means, means common to both said conducting means adapted tocontrol the flow of fluid medium through both of said conducting means,and normally obstructing communication through said second namedconducting means, and means associated with said closure to control saidfluid flow control means.

6. In a discharge apparatus for a tank storing a liquid having adischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with the opening adapted to be unclosed by fluidpressure, fluid medium admission means for said tank, a source of fluidunder pressure, fluid medium co ducting means from said source of fluidto said "closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source offluid to said fluid admission means, partly in common with said firstnamed conducting means, means common to both said conducting meansadapted to control the flow 'of fluid medium through both of saidconducting means and permitting communication through 'said first namedconducting.

means, and means associated with said closure to control said fluid flowcontrol means; 7. In a discharge apparatus for a tank storing throughsaid second named a liquid having a discharge opening, drainage controlmeans for the tank including a closure associated with the openingadapted to be unclosed by fluid pressure, fluid medium admission meansfor said tank, a source of fluid under pressure, fluid medium conductingmeans from said source of fluid -to said closure, fluid mediumconducting means from said source of fluid to said fluid admission mepartly in common with said first named conducting means, means common toboth said conducting means adapted to control the flow or fluid mediumthrough both of said conducting means normally permitting communicationthrough said flrst named conducting means and obstructing communicationthrough said second named conducting means, and means associated withsaid closure to control said fluid flow control means,

8. In a discharge apparatus for a tank storing a liquid having .adischarge opening, drainage control means for the tank including aclosure associated with'the opening adapted to be unclosed by fluidpressure, fluid medium admission means for said tank, a source of fluidunder-pressure, fluid medium conducting means from said source, of fluidto said closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluidto said fluid admission means, partly in common with fluid pressure withunclosing of the closure, whereby control means is free to be moved toobstruct communication in the first and] to free communication in thesecond named conducting means.

12. In combination a fluid flow control valve, a liquid flow impedingmember secured adjacent to the valve forming a chamber therewith andadapted to be rendered inoperative by fluid pressure, means defining afluid flow conducting path into said chamber, fluid flow control meansin said path, fluid medium flow outlet means associated with saidcontrol means, and means on said flow impeding member to control saidcontrol means.

13. In combination a fluid flow control valve, a

' flow impeding member secured adjacent to the said flrstnamedconducting means, means common toboth' said conducting means adapted tocontrol the flow of fluid medium through both 01' said conducting meansnormally permitting communication through said first named conductingmeans and obstructing communication conducting means, and meansassociated with said closure adapted by its position thereon to assuresaid normal position of the control me 9. In combination drainagecontrol means for a tank having an opening associated with said openingincluding a, closure for the opening adapted to be unclosed by fluidpressure, means.

defining "a fluid flow conducting path. to said closure, means in saidpath adapted to ontrol the. flow of fluid medium to the closure, andmeans on said closure to control said control means. 5 10. Incombination a fluid flow control valve, a liquid flow impeding membersecured adjacent to the valve forming a chamber therewith and adapted tobe rendered inoperative by fluid pressure, means deflning a fluid flowconducting path into said chamber, fluid flow control means in said pathnormally nonobstructive thereto, and vmeans on said flow impeding memberto control said control means.

11. In a discharge apparatus for a tank adaptd to store a liquid havinga discharge op, drainage control means for the tank including aclosureassociated with the opening adapted to be unclosed by fluidpressure, fluid medium admission means ior said tank, a source of fluidunder pressure, fluid. medium conducting means from said source of fluidto said closure, fluid medium conducting means from said source of fluidto said fluid admission means partly in common with said first namedconducting means, fluid flow control means common to both saidconducting means movable by fiuid pressure and initially set so as topermit communication through said first named conducting means and toobstruct communication through said second named" conducting means, andmovement limiting means for said flow control means on said closureadapted to be rendered inoperative by ing member to valve forming achamber therewith and adapted to be rendered inoperative by fluidpressure, means defining a fluid flow conducting path into said chamber,fluid'flow control means in said path, fluid medium flow outlet meansassociated with said control means normally obstructed thereby, andmeans on said flow impeding membet to control said control means.

14. In combination a fluid flo'w control valve, a flow impeding membersecured adjacent to the valve forming a chamber therewith and adapted tobe rendered inoperative by fluid pressure, means de g a fluid flowconducting path into said chamber normally unobstructed, fluid flowcontrol means in said path normally in a nonoperated position adapted tobe operated by fluid pressure, fluid medium flow outlet means associatedwith said control means, normally obstructed thereby, andmeans on saidflow impedlimit the operative movement of said control means adapted tobecome inoperative with unclosing of said member.

. 15. In combination a fluid flow control valve, a flow impeding membersecured adjacent to the valve iorminga chamber therewith and adapted tobe rendered inoperative by fluid pressure, means defining a fluid mediumconducting path into said chamber normally unobstructed, fluid flowcontrol means in said path, normally in a i said control means normallyobstructed thereby adapted upon operation of said control means to beput in communication with said conducting path, and means on said flowimpeding member to limit the operative movement of said control meansadapted to become inoperative with unclosing of said member.

16. A spring controlled fluid flow control valve, having a bodystructure, a flow impeding member secured to said body structure forminga chamber therewith having a projection and adapted to be removed byfluid pressure, fluid flow distribution means on said body structure andforming a part thereof having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet port, afluid flow control piston operable by fluid pressure in said controlmeans lightly held in an unoperated position in exact juxtaposition tosaid projection and in that position permitting fluid flow communicationbetween said inlet port and said chamber and obstructing communicationbetween said inlet and said outlet ports, whereby upon admission offluid medium under pressure said piston is moved until further movementis' stopped by said projection and upon removal of said projection withthe flow impeding member upon unclosing of the closure, said flowdue topressure in said chamber the piston is moved to the limits of saiddistribution means to interrupt said first named communication and tofree said last named communication.

'17. In a liquid flow control device operable by a fluid medium underpressure forming a cham ber, a flow impeding member forming a closurefor said chamber adapted to become inoperative upon applicationof fluidpressure in said chamber, means defining a'fluld flow conducting path tosaid chamber including a control chamber, in-

. let means and outlet means for said control chamber, said outletmeansa second outlet means fluid pressure operable movable in said controlchamber between said inlet and outlet means normally leading into saidchamber, for the control chamber, a

structing passage of fluid medium between said inlet and said secondoutlet means, and means associated with said flow impeding memberadapted to obstruct operative movement of the control member, wherebyupon application of fluid pressure through said inlet means saidmovement obst'ructing means becomes inoperative and the control memberis operated to obstruct communicafluid flow control member a liquidhaving a discharge opemng, drainage. con

permitting free passage of fluid medium therebetween and.ob-

trol means for the tank including a closure asso ciated with the openingadapted to be unclosed b fluid pressure,- a source of fluid pressure,fluid me dium conducting means from said-source of flui to said closure,fluid flow control means in. saii. conducting meansnormally permittingthe flov of fluid medium through said conducting meam toward saidclosure, and means associated with said closure to control said fluidflow control means.

HARRY C. GRANT, JR

for' preventing operation-

